Mixed gas and liquid turbine.



H. F'dITmGER. Y MIXED GAS AND LIQUID TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 13. I914.

Patented Feb. 19; 1918.

4 SHEETS -SHEET I.

IIIIIII/IIIII/I H. F'dTTmsER.

MIXED GAS AND LIQUID ,TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1 3, 1514.

1,256,673 Patented Feb. 19,1918.

' Fig. 3 a

4 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

Inventor H. FDTTINGER. MIXED GAS AND LlQUID TURBINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. I3I ISM Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 V -V g, 1.

Witnesses H. F'GIIINGER. MIXED GAS AND LIQUID TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-13.1914.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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v Fig 11 Inventor @WLL 1. k L

UNITED. 's rATEs PATENT OFFICE.

nnnmamv rorrmonmor zorror, NEAR DA; NZIG, GERMANY.

GAS AND LIQUID TURBINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 1 3, 1914. Serial No. 1,981.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANN Forrmcnn, a subject of the King of Bavaria, residingat No. 13 Ba-edeckerwcg, Zoppot, near Danzig, in Germany, have invented'new and useful Improvements in. Mixed Gas and Liquid Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in turbines in which compressed airpr other fluid is used as the driving means, the said fluid being mixed with an auxiliary liquid continually circulating in a circuit formed by stationary and rotary parts of the engine. This auxiliary liquid is energized by the driving fluid and transmits the impulse re ceivedto the turbine. The object of this invention is to provide a' turbine in which the kinetic energy of the driving fluid is directly utilized by roducing a mixture of the fluid and the auxiliary liquid, capable of acting on the rotary part of the turbine by its expansion.

This object is attained by admitting the driving'fiuid to the circulating auxiliary liquid at a place of high pressure in the rotary part of the circuit with nearly the same velocity and conveniently in the same direction, permitting' the mixture to gradually expand during its flowing to a place of lower pressure of thecircuit, where the driving fluid will be separated from the auxiliary liquid and exhausted.

Another object-0f the invention to generate the high pressure of the auxiliary liquid in the turbine itself by giving one branch of the circuit the construction of a centrifugal pump.

' Further objects of the invention are to pro vlde means for exhausting and admitting. liquid to and from the circult for cooling purposes, continuous channels being formed in the rotary and st'atlonary members con- Jointly, the channel in the stationary member belng so arranged as to give the au:, 1l-- iary liquid circulating therein a driving impulse against the rotating member when delivered thereto. Y

The principle on which the operation of the turbine takesplace .is as follows: The

auxiliary liquid entering the one branch of the rotary turbine-wheel and flowing outward "therein will be put under pressure. of the second branch of the circuit the driving fluid admitted under high pressure enters the liquid in the shape of'bubbles, thereby forming a mixture which flows inward and gradually expands in the said second branch, whereby the liquid will transmit to the turbine-wheel the energy received from the driving fluid.

In the drawing, which forms a part 01 this specification a number of constructions being embodiments of the invention, are illustrated by way of examples.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a circuit disposed according to the'invention.

F ig. 2 a vertical sectional elevation of aturbine composed of stationary and rotary parts.

Fig. 8 represents diagrammatic sectional and side elevations of difl'erent parts of the circuit.

Fig. 3 is a,.l0ngitudinal sectional view of the peripheral part of the circuit.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the guide-wheel of the turbine.

Fig. 5 is. a vertical sectional view of a modification of the circuit of the turbine.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a multiple combination thereof.

Fig. 7 represents a diagrammatic sectional elevation of a-multipleturbine with a closed circuit. A

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a. combination of the turbine according to the invention uith a low pressure turbine.

Figs. 9 and 10 are partial sectional elevations of two further modifications of the circuit.

F igs. 11 and 11" represent cross sections of a channel of the circuit in two different modifications.

Lil-:e.numeral's denote like parts throughout all figures of the drawi s.

In order to explain the principle and the operation of the new turbine, reference is first had to thediagrammatic F ig. 1' which represents as 'an example an axial plane of the circuit of a turbine. constructed and Working according to the invention. l2 3-4 denote, as fastened to: the shaft 7, a rotor of the turbine type, which surrounds a stationary guide-apparatus 56. Therotating part. 1-4 and the guide wheel 5-6provided with channels as Well known in tur- I 5--61 in the direction of the arrows bines constitute a closed cir cuit in the shape marked therein. 8 denotes a supply duct for the compressed air which at the point 3 1s forced into the stream of the auxiliary liquid expand considerabl and increase their volume'many times. he: result of this is that the total volume (liquid and expanded air) which every second reaches the point 4, is

considerably larger than the volume near the point 3 (liquid and compressed air) there fore, the average velocity of the streanifrom I, 3 to 4 must increase according as more air is supplied at the place 3. The bubbles of compressed air assume the corresponding pressure of the liquid at each place between the oints 3 and 4t and'transmit work to the liquid by expansion and pressure owing to theirv increase of volume and the pressure 30' with which the air is admitted. This .work

has the effect to push the liquid through the channels of the turbineand guide-wheels in the above-disclosed direction. The energized .liquid on its part transmits work to the turbine-wheel and therefore to the shaft, prin cipally when flowing in the way from? to 4. The bubbles of air, after having relinquished the power to the liquid, are exhausted in a region of low pressure near the center on a small er radius through the openings 9 and escape into the atmosphere or may be utilized in another turbine of suitable construction or other device. 7

The. essential feature of the operation resides inthe fact that the compressed air supplied to the rotating turbine wheel with a constant pressure is mixed with a continugso allyflowing liquid with a moderate velocity, whereu on it is carrid'with the auxiliary liqui V through the channels of the circuit, thereby expanding and doing work, the expanded air being finally exhausted,

The compressed air does not re'quire'toget a high velocity, but. is mixed with the stream of the auxiliary liquid with about the same velocity. .The said mixing is not comparable with a jet of air saturated with liquld as in an injector; on the contrary the driving fluid is distributed in the liquid as bubbles. This operation renders it possible i to utilize the exFansion-power of gases even at a pressure 0 150460 m/sec.) in asingle rotor. With a view of reductlon of losses, itjisan' impors 100 atmospheres and with -comparat1vcly small peripheral velocities tant fact'that the point, at which the air-bubbles are mixed with the liquid is located in 'the rotating turbine-wheel itself.

'.In Fig, 2 which represents the constructional arrangement of a turbine according to the invention, R denotes the rotary turbinewheel; and S the stationary guide-Wheel n1: tegral with a cast casing inclosing the entireengine. The turbinc-wheelmounted upon a shaft 7 has a double wall with curved vanes and channels tl'1erchet\\-'ecn which entcnd m the direction l.--2--34, while the similarly constructed channels 5--6 of the gU.l(l8- Wl189.l

S complete the elliptical circuit in the form of a hollow or curlin ring. Instead of oval, the circuitmay he 0% any other form. The liquid leaving the turbine-wheel at the point 4., passes into the guide wheel from where it is directly rcconducted to the turbine wheel at point 1 with a suitable velocity andconvenient direction. This secures the ad vantage of the least losses of energy and of a very compact construction without pipes for admission and exhaust of the main stream of liquid.

At the left of Fig. 3" the vanes of the. inward-leading branch 3 to 4, and at right those of the outward-leading branch 1 to 2 of the turbine wheel are shown in section per endicular to the axle, while above in the mi die a transverse section, on the line Cli b of Fig. 3, of the channels extending from 2 to 3 is represented; below the vanes of the guidewhecl are represented in a perspective VlGM, Fig. 3" is a longitudinal section of the channels ofthe turbine-Wheel between the points 2 and 3. Fig. 4 is a further perspective view of amodification of the guidewheel. Thesefigurcs represent examples of embodiments, however the vanes may have any other curvature, as the case may re quire. The channels of the turbine and guide-wheels may havea' convenient curvature, can be understood from the views in Figs. 3 3* and 4. The vanes of the outward-leading branch l--2 re resented at right hand of Fig. 3 are, ibr example, curved backward with respect to the rotation of the wheel and will put under pressure the -liquid circulating in h; channels. The in ward-ieading branch 3% of greater radial length has the curvature shown at the left hand of the same figure. The outer ends of the said branches are united by the channels shown in the middle of Fig. :5" and Fig. 3". The curved channels in the guide member 56, illustrated in lower portion of Fig.

3, and in Fig. 4, will give the liquid a direction required for the best admission to the turbine wheel at the point 1. it will be ob served from the detailed views, that the cir cuit is composed of radially outward and in ward leading channels connected by outer and inner channels which may be axial or oblique with respect to the axis.

The turbine-wheel ma bemade eitheras a smooth hollow cast bo y Fig. Ql-in which 'walls or vanes for the formation of channels cast: wheel or in the covering to permit the escape of the exhausted gases to the at mosphere.

At any places of the circuit the channels can be subdivided by lengthwise arranged partitions (Fig. 9) into two or more par allel channels, in order to better conduct the current, .where the gases have a very con siderable volume. The division of the channels into a certain number of channels 3 and 87 of small width and convenient Ci 7 section is illustrated in Figs. 11 and i The object of this construction is; the guid ing of the bubbles which are separated the one from the other in the SlIltLli pipes waterplungers. Thus, the mixture is certainly maintained.

' The admission of the compressed air to the circuit takes place near the point 3, where the air arrives through a convenient duct, such as 8, at the inner end of which a chamber can be provided opening into'each passage of the turbine, its-shown in Fig. 2. Preferably the said ports are formed as tubes ornozzles (Fig. 9), in order to facilitate the mixing of ,the air with the liquid. The admission ports may COLIESPOIl'ti to the turbinepassages in number and location.

The air exhausted through the ports 9 l ig. 1) can be led ofi through slits '10 in the rotary member of the turbine or through the inter vals of the single channels of the turbine wheel (Figs. 3 and 3") and be collected in a closed casing 98. The exhaust can however take place at different points. Fig. 9 shows exhaust ports 10 in two groups, opening to the middle of the circuit, while in Figs. 5 and 10-p orts 10 and 32, respectively, are represented which lead outward. As the air in closed. in a liquid always escapes in the di-' rection of the lowest pressure, it is only required to produce a suihciently high rota.-

tion of the liquid near the pointl by the employment of conveniently constructed vanes, when it is desired to remove the hubbles to a certain point.

As indicated in Fig. 1, inside the turbinewheel a partition 90 may be mounted to overhang the exhaust-ports, in order to catch the liquid carried with the air, and to recond'uctit into the circuit.

With very high pressures of the air and the circ when the entire circuit is put, under pressure by known means, it is possible to dismiss the air with a pressure which is still above the atmospheric pressure and to utilize the remaining power in a turbine of any suitable construction. T his arrangementis shown in Fig. 8. The-air collected in the casings 98 of two turbines of the kind abovedescribed' is admitted to a low pressure turbine 99 .ot' a known type by ineans of .pipes 97. v

To prevent undue cooling of the auxiliary liquid at small part thereof may be led out off the circuit into device for heating it, and then introduced again into the'circuit. The partial discharge of the liquid may, if. en, be made through the labyrinth paclc ing 96 into the ring chamber 25) or through the channel 3 (Fig. 10) or 31 (Fig. 9), while for the influx of the liquid channels 31 (Fig. 2)can be provided. Of course, the

. liquid may be fed at any other place of the circuit. for example. through the channels 12 and ll of the guide-wheel, see Figs. 2

4- respectively.

ibination of three turbines mounted in s is represented in Fig. 7, in which the circuit is constituted by alternating guide-wheels Z5 and turbinenvheels 26 and a tube 18 in the center uniting the ends of the two outer tiu'bines. The driving fluid may-be admitted through the standards 49 v,et. or only to the first turbine, and nuts disposed at suitable points of it.

it is further possible to use a circuit which is U-shaped in cm Fig. 5 whereby the liquid enters through the adnl on tube 15 and .is discharged through $.58 exhaust tube 16 after its passage in the circuit; the outer ends'of the said tu es n be united in any convenient way to close In this constructoe circuit. tion the separation of the air can be effected in the tube 1.6. Fig. 13 illustrates a. combination. of this kind composed of three turbine-wheels 20 and three guide-wheels 21, sin'iilar to Fig. 7, the tubes 15 and 16 being disposed at the ends of the series.

Compressed air is preferred as driving fluid, but any suitable gas or superheated steam can be used under certain conditions. In this case a liquid should be employed the absorption of heat of which is'inferior to that of water. The transmission of heat. from superheated gases to the liquid will be comparatively small, as owing to the velocity of the circulation the expansion of vz-section, as illustrated in the gas from the initial tein -ierature-to that I of the liquid will occur rapidly.

An intermittent admission or exhaust of the driving fluid may take place, for the purpose of producing a pulsatory operation which willhave a certain influence on the dnnenslon and the movement of thebubbles.

' As the auxiliary liquid preferably liquids With high specific weight, low coeflicient ot heat-absorption. and small internal friction are employed. High pressures of the circuit are attained with the useof organic fluids, such as tetrabromacetylcne, or with quicksilver. In connection with superheated steam as driving fluid low transmission of heat and a high boiling point of the liquid is desirable. In many cases the liquid is employed in hot condition and so maintained by the hot driving fluid.

The engine can be started by the admission of air or liquid under high pressure, until the turbine-Wheel'attains the required number of revolutions, or the turbine-whecl or theguide-wheel may be rotated directly in a convenient direction, so that the circulatio n of the auxiliary liquid is caused.

At any place-of the circuit means can be inserted for regulating the velocity, the pressure, or'the passing quantity of the liquid or the output or number of revolutions of the turbine. Such means, if: ex., oscillatory vanes or circular slides which maybe movable axially or radially, or the like, can preferably be' arranged in. the stationary guide-wheel betweenthe points 6 and 1. Governing of the operation can also be effected 'by throttling or increasing the pressure of the drivingdluid,

In' consequence of-the particular operation the dimensions of the turbine can be comparatively small even with low numbers of revolution, and owing to the high centrifir gal force of the'liquid' a considerable initial pressure of the compressed air is applicable at the admission-place with moderate speed of rotation. of the turbine.

The engine above-described can also be employed as a generator of liquid under high pressure; in this case part of the auxiliary liquid is discharged and collected inan accumulator-or utilized directly. In this case the turbine acts a pump driven by compressed air. lhe hquic leaving the turbine with high velocity can also be em-' the appliance.

ployed for propelling ships according to the These effects may be reaction principle. obtained alone 'or besides'the creation of work by the turbine.

The guide-wheel ,5 to Gmay be arranged rotary in opposite directions, instead of stationary,- as known in steam-turbines with oppositely rotating vane-wheels.

While the compressed air works in the branch 3 -4, any other fluid or gas can be compressed in the other branch 1-2 and led off-in a suitable manner. This direct connection of a turbine and a compressor has the resultof ahigh mechan'ical'efficiency in The d iving v admission, but if the'heating is preferred in the turbine itself, together with compressed fluid may 'be heated before a dFiv'ing gaseous medium (see channels 12,

In the accompanying drawings several embodiments of the invention have been shown as examples, but it is obvious that many modifications can be performed with out departing'from the principle of the invention. hat I, therefore, broadly claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'

1]. In a. turbine supplied with a gaseous compressed driving with a guide-wheel, of a turbine-wheel rotary relatively thereto, a supply for the driving fluid leading directly into the tun Dine-Wheel, and an auxiliary liquid circulat ing'in the said guideand turbine-wheels.

2. In a turbine for the purposes described,

the combination with a guide-wheel, of a turbine-wheel rotary relatively thereto, an auxiliary liquid circulating in the said guideand turbine-wheels, a supply for the. driving fluid rotating with, and opening directly into the turbinewheel near the place of the highest pressure of the auxiliary liquid, and an exhaust for the expanded fluid at a place of low pressure.

3. In a turbine for the purposes described, the combination with a stationary guide- Wheel, of a rotary turbine-wheel, anauxiliary liquid circulating in' said guideturbine-wheels, asupply for the driving fluid rotating with and o'peningdirectly into the turbine-wheel near its periphery, and

fluid, the combination ion an exhaust for the expanded fluid near the turbine-wheel rotary relatively thereto, an

auxiliary liquid circulating in said guide-- and turbine-wheels, a supply for the driving fluid, an exha t for the expanded fluid, and

discharge and dmission duets for part of the liquid for heat-regulating purposes.

6. In a turbine for the purposes described, the combination with a guide-wheel, of a turbinewvheel rotary relatively "thereto, the said wheels comprising a closed circuit ,in the shape of a hollow ring, an auxiliary liquid circulating in said circuit, a supply for the driving fluid, and an exhaust for the expanded fluid.

7 In a turbine for the purpbses described,

the combinationwith a guide-wheel, of a turbine-wheel rotary relatively thereto, an

auxiliary liquid circulating in said guidegnd turbine-wheels, a supply for the driving Quid opening directly into the turbinewheel in the form of a nozzle adapted to distribute the fluid as bubbles, and an ex haust for the expanded fluid.

8. In a turbine for the purposes described, thecombination with a guide-wheel, of a turbine-wheel rotary relatively thereto, the said turbine-wheel comprising-an outward leading branch adapted to act as .a centrifugal pump and an inward leading branch ca- I the channels of said elements.

10. In a gas-turbine, the combination with a stationary guide member, of a rotary turbine-wheel, said wheel and member being channeled to form a continuous closed cir cuit, and anauxiliary fluid circulating in said circuit together with means for supplying and exhausting a driving medium to and from the channels of said elements.

4 '11. In a gas-turbine, the combination with a rotary turbine-wheel ofv a stationary guide member, said wheel and member having turbine channels forming a continuous circuit together with means for supplying and exhausting a driving medium to and from the 'channells of said elements, substantially as described. 7 12. In a gas-turbine, the combination of a rotary turbine-wheel having a branch adapted to compress the driving medium togetherwith means for supplying and exhausting a driving medium to and from the channels of said elements.

13. In a gas-turbine, a rotary turbinewheelhaving a branch adapted to compress tlie,driving medium and a branch adapted to receive the driving im ulse.

14. In a gas-turbine, t e combination of a rotary clyanneled turbine-wheel, a channeled guide member, the channels of the wheel and member, forming a continuous circuit, an auxiliary fluid traversing said circuit, and. means for exhausting and admitting part of said fluid from and to said circuit for cooling purposes.

15. In a gas-turbine, the combinationwith a stationary guide member, of a rotary turbine-wheel surrounding said guide member and having ports therein for the admission of compressed air, said wheel and member being channeled to form a continuous closed circuit, and an auxiliary fluid circulating in said circuit.

16. In a gas-turbine, the combination with. arotary turbine-wheel of a stationary guidemember within and encircled by said wheel, said Wheel and member having turbine channels forming a continuous circuit, an auxiliary fluid circulating in said circuit, and inlet and outlet passages to said circuit for the driving medium, substantially as described.

. 17. In a gas-turbine, the combination of a rotary turbine-Wheel having a branch adapted to compress the driving medium and a branch adapted to receive the driving impulse, and an auxiliary driving fluid circulating in said branches.

18. In a gas-turbine, the combination of a rotary channeled turbine-Wheel, a channeled guide member, the channels of the wheel and member forming a continuous circuit, and. an auxiliary fluid traversing said circuit together with means for supplying and exhausting a driving medium to and from the channels of said elements. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMANN Witnesses:

FRANCIS R. STEWART, LOUIS F. DILGER.

FOTTINGER. 

